James e



UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

JAMES B. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE STANDARD NATIONAL GAS BURNER COMPANY,

OF SAME PLACE.

GAS-BURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,578, dated December 27, 1887.

Application iiled May 16, lfl'i. Serial No. 238,374. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

5 have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Gas-Burners of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is more especially intended to obviate a difficulty found in using natural gas for purposes of illumination,

though when used for burning ordinary carburcted-hydrogen gas myimprovement isfound quite advantageous. The difficulty encountered in burning natural gas with burners of r ordinary construction arises from the fact that it is exceedingly subtile and is obtained under immoderate pressure. The result of these causes is to produce an unsteady flame, so very unsatisfactory in this respect that burners of great capacity are resorted to in order to obtain a flame at all applicable to the purposes of ordinary illumination. By the application to ordinary gas-burners of a flame-controlling plate I have succeeded in obtaining a flame not only steady but of increased luminosity.

For a specific description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,

in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of an end or terminal portion of gas-pipe with which the burners are connected, including the latter. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section I through pipe-connections, partlyin elevation. Fig. 3 is a longitudi- 5 nal section through a burner and draft-controlling plate.

In'the present example I have shown a cluster of three burners, which, however, is simply a matter of preference, and in this par- 40 ticular manner of constructing the bu rner-support and gas-outlets would seemingly require more than a single burner to complete a symmetrical appearance of the illuminating appliances.

Into the lower end of tube A is screwed a tube, D. The latter is internally threaded at its lower end, and is designed to screwonto the bracket or gas-arm at that point where ordinary burners are attached. The upper end of tube D is also threaded. internally, into which is inserted a threaded tubular checkvalve, (2, which is closed at top and provided with longitudinal slots d, whereby, by an inward or outward movement of said tube or valve 01 with'relation to tube D, the flow of gas to the burners above may be regulated. The upper end of tube Ais screwed into or otherwise joined with a hollow sphere or enlarge ment, D. Above the latter a tubular extension is provided, bell-shaped and closed at top. Screwed or otherwise secured in the upper end of tube A is-an internally-located tube, 0, (indicated in Fig. 1 by dotted lines.) This latter tube extends into the bell of tube 0, and is open at top. Upon tubular arms I) are supported the burners a, which are provided with tips of ordinary formation.

It is obvious that the gas to reach the burners must ascend through tube 0 and return tosphere D through the space between tube A and'G. The flame-controlling plates, to which I have alluded in the nature and object clause, are represented at B. These plates are of metal, and preferably of such form that if reduced to a plain surface or blank a circle would be exhibited. They may, however, vary from this very considerably and not seriously affect the results-in fact, might vary widely and still in a degree accomplish the purpose. As shown, two sides are made to approach each other from a central bend that forms agroove at the bottom, and two wings, e and e, the positions of which latter are oppositely oblique to a vertical plane. The slot in the burner tip corresponds in its length to the length of the groove formed at the bottom ,of plate B, and therefore the breadth of the flame is in the same direction. Thus the wings e and e are respectively opposite the sides of the flame. The distance of the wings from the sides of the 9c flame is approximately shown in the drawings. There is, however, no limited position absolutely essential, at least embraced within angles of forty-five and eighty degrees of lines drawn from the burner-tip. Much depends upon the gas-pressure, capacity of the burner, and perhaps other causes. The tip of the burner I or base of the flame is preferably elevated somewhat above thebottom of the groove of plate B. My method of securing said plate on the burners is by providing it with a central aperture snfliciently large to pass over that portion of the burner into which the tip I is inserted. By removing the latter the plate may be slipped on, where it rests on a shoulder suitably provided as to distance from the top, when by a slight riveting of the end above the aperture sufficient security is obtained. This part of the construction, however, may be left entirely optional with the maker. I

1 I find, by the application of a plate, B, to the burner, that a flame from the natural-gas supply which would rise in a slender form and with little luminosity is brought down to a steady and highly-illuminating sheet. As shown in Fig. l, the flame in its horizontal breadth follows the groove or channel at the bottom of plate B and spreads evenly beyond it in each direction, resulting in a broad, steady, and in every way satisfactory sheet. It is quite important in this connection that the slot for the exit of gas should have considerable depth below the extremity of the tip. The extension A, with its bell-shaped upper end and the internal tube, 0, conducting the gas to the bell, heats the gas by reason of the heat from the burners below, thus rendering it more highly inflammable and adding to its brilliancy. The plate B not only gives breadth and steadiness to the flame, but apparently also increases its brilliancy. It is essential that the central channel of plate B should can tend horizontally, or nearly so, each way from the burner-tip, and should also be located beneath said tip, as shown and specified. \Vhen these conditions exist, the exclusion thereby of air from the base of the flame and an attraction of the heated metal for the flame serve to expand the latter in breadth and prevent the 0 tendency of said flame to shoot upward in the narrow and unilluminating blaze incident to the burning of natural gaswithout the controlling-plate.

The construction of the parts for controlling the flow or admission of gas and the manner of carrying the latter above the burners for heating it before its escape I do not broadly claim, nor do I design to limit myself to any particular form of constructing the plate B.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure as my invention, is-

1. In an illuminating-burner for natural gas, the combination, with a burner, of a flame 55 controlling plate, B, consisting of sides or wings and a central channel, said wings being located at the sides of the flame, respectively, and the channel beneath the tip of the burner, said channel extending horizontally in opposite directions from the burner-tip and conforming in position to the vertical plane of the slot in said tip.

2. In an illuminatingburner for natural gas, the combination of burner a, flame-controlling plate B, tube A, having a top enlargement, and interior tube, 0, substantially as set forth.

JAMES B. SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

J osnrn RIDGE, FREDERICK O. GOODWIN. 

